Soft-Power Works and Is Cost Effective
Reader comment on item: Symposium: The Showdown [with Iran]

Submitted by GW (United States), Aug 1, 2005 at 15:32

I have met many Shiites who are potentially willing to stand alongside Americans and other Westerners in the strugle against viloent extremism. In their world, soft power will work better than hard power. Military response will be very expensive, and counter-productive. In my opinion, a billion or so every quarter developing Shiite and Iranian affection for the US through soft-power and diplomacy will go a lot further to bringing Iran closer to the USA. On the other hand, every military action against Iran and every affront to their progressive sensibilities could cost many tens of billions of dollars.

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